| It was clear the day of my official acceptance into the UIU doctoral program that I would direct my focus on the process of influencing healthcare delivery systems through the utilization of communication. I thus, set about the task of establishing a curriculum, which would engage me as a graduate learner in an interdisciplinary process with a special emphasis on Health Communication. After acceptance in the Union Institute and University doctoral program, I participated in the entry colloquium.;The next few months were occupied by formatting my ideas and implementing some of the suggestions made during the entry colloquium. Included in this first phase was the gathering together of a committee, which would help me guide me through my learning process. The experience of constructing a committee is not unlike setting up a business. It involves strategic planning, personnel evaluation and goal measurement. In conversations with other learners, it has been discussed that each committee serves the needs of each learner in a different way. My committee has provided the needed support and wisdom needed to move me toward the completion of my degree.;A working template for my course work was created during the entry colloquium, which allowed me to engage in residency requirements and coursework while preparing the draft of my Learning Agreement. During the process of preparing the learning agreement, I discovered that my program was undergoing refinement and that the completion of this document was a written commitment by which I would adhere.;After gathering information on existing programs from the above categories, I analyzed my specific course needs and established the subject areas needed to complete my proficiencies. I remember having mixed emotions while preparing the document. The emotions ranged from anxiety in undertaking such a massive task to the sheer joy of pursing doctoral level learning. However, the commitment is one that provided a benchmark for my achievement.;My course of study in Health Communication had several components. All parts of this program were developed to meet the requirements as outlined in The Union Institute and University Learner Handbook. This goal placed a special emphasis on collaboration between standard medical and alternative medical health delivery systems. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
